What Cold and Flu Viruses Are Currently Circulating Now

Understanding Common Colds Currently Circulating

Cold and flu viruses constantly evolve and circulate year-round. However, certain strains tend to spike seasonally or gain traction locally before spreading more widely. Knowing what colds are currently going around your community can help you differentiate between common colds and other respiratory illnesses based on prominent symptoms.

Typical Fall and Winter Colds

As kids return to school in the fall and people gather indoors more during winter, certain cold viruses flourish like:

Rhinoviruses

Rhinoviruses trigger about 30-50% of common colds and often peak in early fall and late spring. They manifest as sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, hoarse voice and mild body aches.

Coronaviruses

These cause 10-15% of colds, spiking December through May. Besides typical cold symptoms, coronaviruses uniquely produce fever, headache and lingering deep cough.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

RSV brings cold-like fever, cough, wheezing, runny nose and decreased appetite. But unlike colds, RSV poses risks for bronchitis, pneumonia and hospitalization in older adults.

Colds Circulating in Early Spring

From February through April, adolescence-young adulthood groups suffering "spring break cold" outbreaks from close living quarters may spread viruses like:

Parainfluenza

Parainfluenza virus manifests as very sore throat, fever, congestion, cough and hoarseness. Symptoms tend to arise slower but last over two weeks.

Metapneumovirus

Peaking in late winter-early spring, metapneumovirus causes cold-flu overlap symptoms - fever, body aches, wheezing cough, runny nose, fatigue and nausea/vomiting.

Year-Round Common Cold Strains

Certain cold viruses continue circulating non-stop, several of which cause "summer colds" like:

Enteroviruses

Responsible for many infant colds year-round, enteroviruses also affect school-aged kids and adults. This virus family includes strains that may cause hand, foot and mouth disease alongside cold symptoms.

Adenoviruses

Present all year, adenoviruses trigger colds accompanied by eye infections like viral pink eye. They spread rapidly through schools, childcare centers, college dorms and military barracks producing sore throat, fever and severe cough.

Differentiating Common Colds from Flu

Despite overlapping symptoms, identifying a likely culprit virus based on clinical characteristics and timing provides clues if you're battling a common cold or something else like influenza:

Influenza (Flu)

The flu usually circulates from December through February in the Northern hemisphere with symptoms like high fever, body aches, dehydration, and extreme fatigue. Cold viruses can make you miserable, but flu often puts people in bed for days.

COVID-19

A high fever unrelieved by over-the-counter medications signals medical evaluation - especially if accompanied by shortness of breath - as COVID-19 remains in circulation year-round.

Allergies

Allergies like hay fever cause sneezing, watery eyes and sinus irritation much like colds but lack symptomatic fever. Seasonal allergies follow predictable annual spring, summer and fall pollen cycles.

Sinus Infection

Viral colds often spark secondary sinus infections marked by prolonged thick mucus discharge, facial pain/pressure and reduced sense of smell. Self-diagnosis here gets tricky.

Protecting Yourself from Colds

Guarding against community cold viruses by strengthening immune defenses proves vital. Strategies like good hand hygiene, proper mask use, avoiding sick contacts, managing stress and optimizing nutrition and sleep give your system the best chance to withstand exposure.

Get Vaccinated

Annual flu shots and COVID-19 vaccine boosters fortify immune response against two prominent respiratory viruses with overlapping symptoms to common colds. Pneumonia immunization also helps protect vulnerable populations.

Care for Existing Conditions

Those managing lung conditions like asthma/COPD or immune issues such as HIV, cancer treatment side effects, etc. need extra vigilance against complicating infections from circulating cold viruses via provider guidance.

Have a Plan If Illness Strikes

Colds often run their course without major intervention. But identify symptoms signaling necessary medical care like difficulty breathing, dehydration or sudden confusion particularly in infants, children and older adults. Telemedicine makes provider access and assessment more convenient than ever.

The Bottom Line

Familiarizing yourself with common cold strains currently sparking community outbreaks provides context to better self-diagnose and treat appropriately. But don't shrug off serious viral infection just because some symptoms mimic a cold.

Getting vaccinated, supporting your immune system, and consulting your healthcare provider with concerns facilitates proper recovery. Taking informed precautions limits transmission risk to those most vulnerable to cold viruses as well.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.